US-based Sahil and Parvaty got married in a beautiful temple in Maryland, and their wedding was resplendent with rich Indian traditions, ethnic looks, and memorable merrymaking.

Parvaty and Sahil’s wedding in the US was steeped in Indian customs and traditions that exuded a sense of home away from home. The venue, rituals, clothes and even the jewelry were evocative of festivities in their homeland, India. Here, bride Parvaty shares glimpses and memories of the simple yet elegant wedding ceremonies.

How We Met "I was pursuing my Master's degree in Florida and Sahil was working in Washington DC when my mother created a profile for me on Shaadi.com. One day she called me and gave me his credentials and it all began from there. We connected via email, exchanged numbers and started our friendship by getting to know each other. In fact, his was the only profile that I ever saw. When my mother told me about Sahil little did I know that I was going to find my best friend in him. Our friendship turned into romance quickly and I couldn’t have been happier. Being an extremely shy guy, his response to my 'I love you' was 'The feeling is mutual' and I am so glad that we have been rocking 'mutually' ever since!

Wedding Planning "Our wedding planning was fairly stress-free thanks to our parents and friends helping us. Right from selecting the wedding venues to the table centerpieces, everything was smooth sailing. We had Journeys by Ram taking care of our wedding photography, which turned out to be a wonderful decision. Not only is Ram exceptionally talented, but he is also one of the nicest people I've met. He made us feel so comfortable and managed to get such beautiful shots of us amidst all the commotion. Sahil still can't believe how splendid the pictures turned out since he is very camera shy. We have such happy pictures from our wedding, that we have promised to look at the wedding pictures every time we fight just to remind ourselves of the happiest day of our lives. Swati and Reeti from Salon SBS in Fairfax, Virginia, are magicians. These sisters know exactly what needs to be done, from taking care of my hair and makeup to helping me drape my saree and putting together my jewelry. They made me look and feel beautiful on my special day."

Wedding Venue "We chose to get married at the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Maryland, US. We wanted a very intimate wedding with people we love. The first time we visited the temple we knew we wanted to take our vows there. The architecture is just stunning and the auditorium served as the venue for our mandap."

Wedding Functions

Wedding "We had envisioned our wedding decor to include a palette of gold, pink, red and ivory hues, and the reality was a spitting image of our imagination. Vivek from Ruhee Decorators understood and executed our vision to perfection. Sahil wore a white 'mundu' (traditional garment for men in Kerala worn around the waist) with a golden border and a white shirt while my ivory and golden Kanjivaram saree with a pink border complemented Sahil's ensemble as well as the decor beautifully. I finished my look with some stunning temple jewelry."

Reception "For our reception, we booked a space at the Hyatt Regency Dulles at Herndon, Virginia. This function was a fun-filled contrast to the formal wedding that took place in the morning. Highlights of his event included our families letting loose with the craziest dance moves, quirky props, and endless laughter. I wore a gown with a golden bodice and a deep blue skirt and Sahil put on a black suit for this event."

Advice For Couples There are two things that I think are really important for couples to remember when they decide to get married. One is that the wedding only lasts a day but marriage is forever. So never stop dating your spouse! The second is that the wedding day is only one of the many experiences and memories you will share in the long haul, so focus on yourself and your partner. Everything falls into place on the big day."